Traveling scaffold



May 9, 950 s. DIMON TRAVELING scAFFoLD 3 shets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1947 I In rc1/tor v Samuel Dimon a Attorneys May 9, i950 s. DlMoN TRAVELING SCAFF'OLD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1947 36 Samuel D/'mon f z, f WWW 1f@ May 9, 1950 s. DIMON TRAVELING scAFFoLD 3 sheets-sheet :5

Filed Feb. 20, 1947 lure/1to1' Samuel Dimon Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a traveling scaffold and more specically pertains to a portable platform for use by painters, paper hangers and like craftsmen in order to facilitate their access to ceilings, walls or the like for work thereon.

The principal objects of this invention reside in providing a scaffold of the character above set forth which shall be of light weight construction; readily adjustable for various heights; which will provide convenient shelves for storing articles and materials required by the worker; which shall be provided with an improved mechanism for propelling the same by the Worker' without leaving his position upon the platform thereof; which shall be provided with a novel mechanism for steering the same during the aforementioned movement; wherein a manually operated single means is provided for both propellingr and steering the device; wherein the propelling means is carried entirely by the steering mechanism and readily accessible to the worker; and wherein the common steering and propelling means may be vertically adjustable in conformity with adjustment of the platform for supporting the worker, as required.

Further important objects of the invention reside in providing a device in accordance with the preceding objects, which shall be of simple and sturdy construction, inexpensive to manufacture, dependable and durable in operation and which will be highly efficient for the purposes intended.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, one embodiment cf which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the traveling scaifold, the position of a rworker thereon being indicated in dotted lines;

lFigure 2 is a vertical sectional detailed view through the apparatus being taken substantially upon the section line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken at right angles to that of Figure 2 and taken substantially upon the section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail View taken in horizontal section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and illustratng the arrangement and construction of the steering wheels of the device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail View of one of the xedly supported wheels of the device and taken substantially upon the section line 5 5 in horizontal section thereon;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View illustrating the construction and mounting of the common control means for propelling and steering the device; and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the steering and driving connection with a steering wheel of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the attached drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views, attention is nrst directed chiey to Figure 1 wherein it may be seen that the device indicated generally at l consists of a supporting frame work indicated generally at l2 and composed of suitable standards, reinforcements and cross bracing to form a rigid framework of either metal, Wood or other materials or combinations thereof as desired.

This supporting frame Work is provided with a platform I4 which is intended to support in convenient position thereon a worker as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, this platform being suitably braced and supported from the four corner standards of the apparatus and being vertically adjustable thereof as by means of a series of longitudinally spaced holes in said standards with which the platform and braces are adapted to be selectively engaged in a known manner.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the upper end of the supporting frame which is preferably in the form of a tower, is provided with laterally extending arms i6 rigidly secured thereto between which arms are adapted to be positioned a pair of shelves i8 or the like for the reception of various materials employed by the worker. It may be here noted that the arms I6 and shelves I8 may be of any suitable dimensions, and when the device is to be employed by a painter, these shelves and arms are adapted to support a drop cloth or canvas which may thus be held in position beneath the surface being painted, thus eliminating the necessity for laboriously placing andremoving drop cloths and canvases in accordance with the previous practice.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 5, one end of the face of the supporting frame journals a transversely disposed axle 20 upon which are rotatably retained a pair of supporting wheels 22 of any suitable construction and in any desired manner.

The other end of the base of the supporting or pin 30 which is joiunaled in anysuitablepart.

of the frarnev'vork.-4 The [arrangement is such that the axle l28 and wheel 24 are free to swivel or turn about the vertical spindle or axle 3B in a manner to be subsequently set forth.

The steering shaft comprising upper ariLlower.

telescoping sections 32 and 34 respectivelyis vertically disposed and journaled in' "supporting brackets 39 from one of the cornen'standards of the supporting frame l2.

non-rotatable, longitudinally xed predeter- As shown best in Figa. ure 6, the sections 32 and 34 are retained in mined pesinones byfmea'nsjpfa fastenigpm* 38, it being understoodthat 'ai pluralityof aperfy tures may be providedi in oneof these elements forlongitudinally'adjusting the -telescoping mem bers relative to" each-otheii! The upper and f lower extremities' of the-` steering shaftl 'sec-fIv tions 32 and"34'are.proVided-.vith laterally ex-v tending -L cranks 4 and 42 respectively The steering wheel'26`fis"rotatably journaled'f and retained upon the-lowerfjcrank 42,7`whereb-y when the 'upper crank 40 rotated in itssupl' port-bracket by a means to be `later set forth, il the fsteering wheel 26 maybe similarly pivoted for steering the apparatus.

Attention is now directed' particularly to Figure 4, whereit may'be-seen thatlthe'spindles and 42 constituting'axles o'r'the' steering wheelsY 24 fand 26 respectively, are" provided withlater=,

ally extending`arms46 and`44 respectively which!r are connected by means oi a tie rod 48 'of any suitable construction,l n vwhereby upon i pivotal movement ofthe" steering wheel' 26, 'simultaf neous f and similarfmoveinntwill be impartedy the other steering wheel 24`in" aknown manner-:f

A hand-wheel 50'is journaledu'pon the' upper` sprocket -AWheel j 52,#while thefstering'l'and pro-lv peiling wheel-*26 has-'a similari sprocket 54 rigidly fcarried thereby -Asl'iitable sprocketchain 55 sf' rotation of the hand wheel 5B will causerotae tion v .of the propelling-- -Wheelf `2G, -thereby '-pro#` ducing movement Aof theapparatusi. 1t should be herelnoted that the-harid wheel "50wil1fbe dis-*f posed in proper -position to"the'-lplatforr`n "i4 to permiteven manipulation of thehand wheel by the workerfrom hisrpositionf upon Vsaid platformrand :it will be furtherrnoted-that the' weight of theA il worker will necessarily 'be disposed-substantially above the `traction wheel 26 vwhen thellatter. is beingrotatedl` Further, by meansof manipulation of4 thesame .1

wheel 5U,...the.lsteering.; shaft; sections Amayilbe rotated in their journals, and through :thelinkage,.V

44, 56 and. Y48, `will cause `theitwosteeririg. 'wheels 4 maneuvering of the device. Thus, a single control means has been provided, whereby propulsion of the device and steering thereof may be eiected by the worker without leaving his Working platform. Moreover, the propelling means is entirely carried by the steering shaft, so that regardless of the rotation of the latter, the propelling means is constantly available for employment. by `the Worker.

Since various modications of the principles of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the foregoing speciiication and accompanying drawings, it is not-desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionshown and described, and all suit- "able modifications and equivalents falling within the scopeof the `,appended claims may be resorted to.

For "example, although. the device has been shown as .employing two steeringv wheels, it will be readily understoodthat in some instances the connecting linkage-44,'46 and 48 may be omitted,

whereby'the'wheel 24 will constitute a freely swiv-` eling caster, and -steering and propulsion of the platform carried'therebyfsaidframe including.;

opposed pairs of spaced fL-snf'iaped4 stud members,u

a plurality of horizontallyl extending 'AL-shaped" Vbeaml members securedto said studgmembers, a vertical shaft journaledrin said `beam members, an upper-'work'taole comprisingfa plate secured' to the -upper ends of saidst-ud-meinbers and having a ycentral opening' therethroughpermitting l an operator'to stand therein,=supporting wheels-"fjournaied; on jsaid Y frame;i upper YandA lower-fcrank *1 arrnsY secured to Isaid shaft; a combinationdrive steering` and supporting wheel journaledon said lower crank` arm,a hand wheel'journaled on said upper 1crank` -ari'rh'fdrivemeansoperatively con f nected to said hand wheel'and'saidcombinationg' 'i wheel' fori-selectively rotating 'said combination- Wheel when 'said :hand wheel iis rotated, a rod journaled in one of saidjbearn'frnembers -fvorlpi-ve otal Vmovement relative thereto; -a-v lateralkextrem;

ity lon said-rod,l a steeringfv and supporting wheel rotatablylf mounted L on' A said ^latrall extremity-.1 means connecting said shaft and said rod for simultaneouspivotal movemez'it.i` f- SAMUELy DIMONZ` REFERENCES CITED; .z I

The followingreferences are"'of record in the "i file K of this patent): f' 

